Petunia plant named ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Nagaizumicho, Shizuoka, Japan. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous andfreely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants withyellow-colored flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors in August, 2014 in Nagaizumicho, Shizuoka, Japan of an unnamedproprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybridaidentified as code number P26-349-1, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by theInventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inNagaizumicho, Shizuoka, Japan in July, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nagaizumicho,Shizuoka, Japan since April, 2016 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Yellow-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color asflowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker and more intense yellowin color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection. Inaddition, flowers of plants of the new Petunia are more funnelform inshape than and not as salverform in shape as plants of the female parentselection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size asplants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of the maleparent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘ShockwaveYellow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Shockwave Yellow’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Shockwave Yellow’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia are broader than leaves        of plants of ‘Shockwave Yellow’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker and more        intense yellow in color than flowers of plants of ‘Shockwave        Yellow’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘HorizonYellow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Horizon Yellow’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are smaller than plants of ‘Horizon        Yellow’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Horizon Yellow’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Horizon Yellow’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker and more        intense yellow in color than flowers of plants of ‘Horizon        Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 12-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Fukuroishi, Shizuoka,Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petuniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 23° C., night temperatures averaged 10° C. and light levelsaveraged 80,000 lux. Plants were seven weeks from planting rootedcuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Petunia X hybrida, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number P26-349-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at soil            temperatures about 20° C. and ambient temperatures ranging            from 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About one week at soil            temperatures about 20° C. and ambient temperatures ranging            from 10° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at soil temperatures about 20° C. and ambient            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at soil temperatures about 20° C. and ambient            temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about six            primary lateral branches each with secondary lateral            branches potentially developing at every node; dense and            bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral            branches; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 5 cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 7 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 20 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture            and luster: Densely pubescent; viscid; matte. Color,            developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering and after flowers            develop; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 4.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately            pubescence; viscid; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 137B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Densely pubescence; viscid; matte. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform            flowers; flowers face upright to mostly outwardly; freely            flowering habit with numerous flowers developing per plant            during the flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from spring until the            autumn, flowering continuous during this period; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks            after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: Distally, about            7 mm; proximally, about 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; viscid; matte. Color:            Close to 144B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.5 cm.        -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 1 cm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat): About 1.5 cm.            Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate.            Petal lobe apex: Cuspidate to emarginate. Petal lobe margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal lobe texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Petal lobe texture            and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent matte. Throat            and tube texture and luster: Densely pubescent; viscid;            matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 7A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 1A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 7A; venation, close to 7A; color does not            change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 1C; venation, close to 144C; color does not change with            development. Flower throat (inside): Close to 145A;            venation, close to 145A. Flower tube (outside): Close to            145A; venation, close to 145A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.2 cm. Calyx            diameter: About 1 cm. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded, blunt. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; viscid; matte. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 137B. When opening and fully            developed, lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 20° from the stem            axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; viscid; matte.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 155A.            Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed.            Anther color: Close to 145B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style            color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma            shape: Capitate. Stigma color: Close to 143A. Ovary color:            Close to 141C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Petunia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘MIYOPEGB60-1’as illustrated and described.